It's all a bit weird re-opening.

It has been a strange year. It was just over a year ago that I closed the business due to Covid-19. Of course I opened up in June but with Covid still being a big thing, there were very few customers and I really wasn’t trying to get work, as I was worried about catching Covid, as I am asthmatic.

With the second lockdown I closed again and I didn’t reopen in December when businesses could re-open because I didn’t believe it was particularly safe to do so and I didn’t think I would get much custom anyway.

Of course, the third wave was inevitable and Michael Laing Photography has been closed all through lockdown three.

Soon, though businesses will start to open and mine will be one of them, though probably not from the twelfth

Over the last year, I have had a lot of time to think about how and what I would like to do, when reopening. Winning South East Photographer of the year, made me focus on what I was good at, when it came to photography and I hope to move more into those specialist areas.

A part of this is doing more portraiture, particularly themed and theatrical, as well as studio dog portraits and mature portrait.

This means several changes. I will be going over to high end framed portrait, with three or four sizes offered (though larger will be available). For this to work, I will be using the front room as a viewing room. Where I will have various size prints on the wall for customers to see, as well as a computer and TV for clients to look through the images, so they can choose the images that they would like printed.

Also this means that I will have to buy a new settee (which I was hoping to hold off on due to Reggie’s habit of liking to sit in the front room but the front room will have to become a no-go area for him (not sure how that will work).

The idea is that I have to offer a high quality service and that means I have to make everything perfect for the customer. The viewing room is the first thing. The office will be the second and hopefully then the most expensive part the studio will be third.

This will be a long and costly endeavour but hopefully worth it.

I have just ordered the large TV (something the viewing room will be built around). I will be hoping to view various different print/wall art companies, once everything opens, to get the best image possible for the customer, make sure the customer service is high and reliable. Then I will be placing the frames around the viewing room for customers to see, as well as different mountings. Then I will be replacing my old tatty sofa, with a new one. As well as having a computer in the room to allow the viewings to the TV.

After that. I will move to improving the office, which includes, getting a new PC, which will hopefully help with editing, Eventually, I hope to get a second calibrated monitor, one for Adobe RGB (for prints) the second with S-RGB for use on the internet.

My aim is to sell the framed print and the client will receive an S-RGB file, for use for the internet.

All this is in the early planning stages and as I move forward, I need to make sure that I am offering the best service possible to the client.